By Kingsley Elliot Kaye
Everybody remembers the last clash between Murray and Tsitsipas at the last US Open, with Murray leading by 2 sets to 1, before losing in five, and Tsitsipas’s famous toilet breaks. So close to victory nine months ago, now Murray is enjoying the form he was relishing and in the quarter-final of the Boss Open in Stuttgart he took advantage of the surface where he is definitely at ease and secured his first win, 7-6 6-3, against a top 5 since his comeback. Tsitsipas is still trying to find the key to grass. And for one set he had found it: top-class serving, slicing his backhands while waiting for a chance to overturn the rally and start pounding forehands, always eager to come forward and exhibit his net skills. He elected to chip first serve returns and to frequently pounce on second serves. But after losing a very tight first set, and once his first serve let him down in the second set, there was no match.
He played unbelievably well in the first set, Murray said. I felt I had very few chances when I was returning. When he was creating opportunities on my serve, I stayed strong. I played a really solid tiebreak. In the second set I served well. His serve dropped a little bit and once I was in the rallies, I felt like I was dictating the points. This surface really suits my game style. I’m able to use my strengths on this court.
The first set was dominated by serve. Tsitsipas conceded just one point in his first three service games.
In the seventh game Murray was able to rally, and earned a break point, but Tsitsipas hit a winning serve and two aces to hold.
Murray in turn faced a set point while serving in the eleventh game and miraculously clinched the point by coming up with a half volley backhand passing shot hit on the very baseline.
The tiebreak went hand in hand till the seventh point, when Murray returned a first service and his following backhand hit the top of the net and cheekily dropped over. Tsitsipas dashed forward in vain.
An ace and an excellent first serve did the job and Murray won the first set scoring fewer points than his opponent.
In the second set Murray played an outstanding sixth game where he hit a forehand winner down the line and two backhand passing shots to rip the Greeks’ serve.
I was kind of defending all the point. It was quite far behind the baseline but I saw his shot early, got across there, used a lot of the left hand to get the angle, That turned the match, Murray said.
He had two match points in the 8th game, which Tsitsipas saved with his last service fireworks, but Murray hit two forehand winners to close the match in his following service game.
He will face Nick Kyrgios in the semi-final in what will surely be a groovy match between two of the greatest grass artists on the tour.
The Australian edged past Marton Fucsovics, who was forced to withdraw in the second set. Kyrgios had won the first set at the tiebreak, when he eventually found some focus, after a loose start. I just felt like serving. I didn’t feel like running or anything. He explained. I know I can win most of my matches if I serve well, especially on grass, and make a couple of returns here and there.
He looks forward to taking on Andy Murray. Andy is one of the closest friends I have on tour. It’s good to see him back and competing at this level. He’s one of the greatest of all time. I’m excited. I know he’s going to be focused and I’m sure he knows what he expects, the unexpected, tomorrow. It’s going to be fun.
The second semi-final of the Stuttgart Boss Open will feature Oscar Otte, who didn’t even step out on court yesterday due to Benjamin Bonzi’s withdrawal, and Matteo Berrettini. The former Wimbledon runner-up defeated fellow countryman Lorenzo Sonego 6-3 4-6 6-4 and is on the way back to his best form, after missing from the tour for three months after his hand surgery.
